Photo-switched self-assembly of a gemini α-helical peptide into supramolecular architectures

An azobenzene-linked symmetrical gemini α-helical peptide was designed and prepared to realize the light-switched self-assembly. With the reversible molecular structure transition between Z- and U-structures, the morphology of the self-assembled gemini α-helical peptide can reversibly change between nanofibers and nanospheres in acidic medium, and between nanospheres and vesicles in basic medium.